PM Briceño Backs Dr. Barnett Amid CARICOM Rift

Prime Minister John Briceño is standing firmly behind Doctor Carla Barnett as calls emerge for a change in leadership at the CARICOM Secretariat. The Prime Minister has voiced his full support for her reappointment as CARICOM Secretary General, describing her as highly qualified and deserving of continued confidence. His remarks come after the Prime Minister of Trinidad public expressed her objections to the decision. Trinidad’s government claims that it was disinvited from the discussions that led to the reappointment.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It is unfortunate that Trinidad has taken such a public position on wanting to remove Dr. Carla Barnett. I want to make it very clear that Carla Barnett is a Belizean, highly qualified, and she continues to have the support of Belize. I know some people might say she might be from the opposition, or was a member of the UDP one time. Like I tell people, we might have our differences here in Belize, but outside of Belize we are one and stand by one another. I believe she has done a good job. There is always room for improvement. But that should come from us heads. The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago chose not to attend the conference of heads where only heads meet. When she did not go, we gave an opportunity, the Chairman, Prime Minister Drew from Saint Kitts and Nevis made an attempt to invite the foreign minister, but he said he could not go because he gets sea sick. He chose not attend. So today we are going to have a meeting to discuss that and I am hoping we can find an amicable solution to this matter.”

 

Despite objections from Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize stands firmly behind Dr. Carla Barnett, urging CARICOM leaders to resolve the dispute amicably and maintain unity within the regional bloc.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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